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Vintage 2022 — Power, ripeness and major modern successes
Buying a 2022 wine means choosing a warm, concentrated and already highly sought-after vintage. Marked by heat and drought, the year nevertheless produced wines with sometimes remarkable freshness, especially where great terroirs and leading estates managed ripeness with precision.
The strongest successes are found today among great red Bordeaux, in Burgundy, across Spain’s leading wine regions, in the Loire Valley and in Germany for Riesling. Switzerland, Champagne, Napa Valley, Piedmont and the Rhône Valley also offer fine opportunities, but they require a more selective reading by estate, house and cuvée.
For the most reliable choices, focus on great red Bordeaux 2022, white Burgundy, red Burgundy, Spain’s leading regions, the best wines from the Loire Valley and German Riesling. Switzerland, Champagne, Napa Valley, Piedmont, the Rhône and Mediterranean regions also deserve attention, but the producer’s name remains decisive.
The 6 strongest estimated successes of the 2022 vintage
A focused selection of the most convincing regions and wine styles of the 2022 vintage, designed to guide purchases without overloading the mobile reading experience.
Major vintage, top classified growths are a priority.
Major success, precise estates to target.
Very strong vintage, serious ageing potential.
Very solid across the leading regions.
Excellent reds, solid whites.
Strong successes, to be selected by estate.
World Web Wines estimated scores, for editorial guidance only. They provide a buying orientation and do not represent a single official rating.
The style of the 2022 vintage
2022 is a vintage of ripeness, density and presence. The best wines are not only rich: they combine ripe fruit, structure, depth and a clear sense of freshness. The style is modern, expressive and often built for ageing, but success depends strongly on the precision of the estate.
Bordeaux 2022 — The great red pillar of the vintage
In Bordeaux, 2022 stands as one of the great modern red vintages. The most successful crus combine intensity, ripe fruit, tannic structure and preserved freshness. It is one of the safest buying axes for cellaring, classified growths and collectible bottles.
Look for: Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Saint-Estèphe, Margaux, Pessac-Léognan, Pomerol and Saint-Émilion, especially from estates capable of balancing power, freshness and structure.
Burgundy 2022 — Major whites and harmonious reds
In Burgundy, 2022 is a very strong success in both colours. The whites stand out for their ripeness, energy and balance, with bottles already highly sought after. The reds show a harmonious, attractive and serious profile, driven more by fruit, texture and consistency than by sheer power.
Look for: Chablis, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Côte de Beaune, Côte de Nuits and benchmark estates.
Spain 2022 — Strong leading regions
In Spain, 2022 is particularly solid across the major regions for age-worthy wines. The vintage can deliver ripe, structured and expressive bottles, but the best buys remain tied to estate consistency and the ability to preserve balance in a warm year.
Look for: Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Priorat, Toro and leading Spanish estates capable of combining ripeness, structure and freshness.
Loire Valley 2022 — Ripe reds, solid whites
In the Loire Valley, 2022 ranks among the strong successes of the vintage. The reds are particularly interesting, with characterful, ripe, fruit-driven and well-structured wines. Whites and sweet wines also offer good balance, though selection by appellation and estate remains important.
Look for: Chinon, Bourgueil, Saumur-Champigny, red Sancerre, great Loire Chenin, Vouvray, Montlouis and benchmark Loire estates.
Germany 2022 — Ripe and precise Riesling
In Germany, 2022 offers strong successes for Riesling lovers. The vintage combines ripeness, fruit, freshness and aromatic clarity in the best estates, with a reading that should remain attentive to region and winemaking style.
Look for: Riesling from the Mosel, Nahe, Rheingau and Rheinhessen, especially from producers known for precision and consistency.
Switzerland, Champagne, Napa Valley, Piedmont and Rhône — Buy with discernment
Beyond the six main successes, 2022 also offers beautiful bottles in Switzerland, Champagne, Napa Valley, Piedmont and the Rhône Valley. The vintage requires more careful selection in these regions: house, estate, cuvée style and final balance matter more than a broad reading of the year.
Key takeaways
Best buying axes: red Bordeaux, white Burgundy, red Burgundy, Spain’s leading regions, the Loire Valley and German Riesling.
Select carefully: Switzerland, Champagne, Napa Valley, Piedmont, Rhône and Mediterranean regions.
Style to look for: ripeness, ripe fruit, depth, preserved freshness, structure and estate reliability.
Choosing a 2022 bottle
For a modern cellar, a gift or a birth-year bottle, 2022 offers a powerful, clear and highly rewarding profile. The best approach is to focus on benchmark estates: those capable of turning the warmth of the vintage into depth, balance and genuine ageing potential.
